At least 27 people have died and dozens more were injured in a huge fire in a commercial building in India’s capital, Delhi.
The large fire broke out at the four-storey building near a railway station in the western suburb of Mundka in the late afternoon on Friday, but its cause was not immediately clear.
Television footage showed smoke billowing out of the windows of the building, with firefighters helping those trapped in the upper floors to escape as hundreds watched. More than 30 fire trucks were at the scene, along with ambulances.
“Twenty-seven charred bodies were recovered from the building and almost two dozen injured are undergoing treatment,” said Satpal Bharadwaj, who was in charge of operations for the Delhi fire service at the scene.
The fire broke out in the first floor of the building that houses the office of a surveillance camera manufacturing company, police said.
On Saturday, police said they’d arrested two owners of the company. The police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and a criminal conspiracy that is punishable with life imprisonment or 10 years in jail.
The building had no clearance from the fire department and it was not equipped with fire safety equipment like extinguishers, said Atul Garg, the director of the Delhi fire service.
Bharadwaj said there were about 70 people in the building when the blaze erupted.
“There was no fire exit and most of the people died due to asphyxiation,” Bharadwaj said, adding that more would be known after autopsies could be conducted.
The deputy chief fire officer, Sunil Choudhary, said the number of injured stood at “more than 25 people”. Choudhary added that some had jumped from the burning building.
Broadcaster NDTV, meanwhile, reported that more than 40 people had sustained burns and were hospitalised.
Amit Mahajan, whose cousin and nephew were missing after the fire, said they had been at the building to “train workers”.
“I have visited all the nearby hospitals but there is no trace of them. We are not sure about their safety or whereabouts,” he said.
Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.
The Indian capital of 20 million people is currently suffering through a heatwave, with temperatures of up to 46C recorded in some places.
The prime minister, Narendra Modi, offered condolences on Twitter.
“Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire in Delhi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Modi said.
The Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, tweeted: “Shocked and pained to know abt this tragic incident. I am constantly in touch [with] officers. Our brave firemen are trying their best to control the fire and save lives.”
Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters